SEMO VIEWS SWEDISH EXCHANGE PROGRAM

The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents will consider approving an exchange program between the school's Harrison College of Business and a Swedish university when it meets today.

The regents will convene at 2 p.m. in the University Center Ballroom.

The proposed exchange involves the University of Orebro, which has an enrollment of about 5,000 students. Founded in 1977 with a focus on the social sciences, the university is situated about five miles from the center of Orebro in Scandinavia.

Gerald McDougall, dean of Southeast's business college, said the exchange will help place a greater international emphasis on the college's business curriculum.

"Orebro runs a business program and the instruction is all in English," explained McDougall. Both European and American students attend the Swedish university.

The program gives European students a chance to improve their English skills and American students a chance to interact and learn about European cultures, McDougall said.

Under the program, a Southeast student can spend a semester studying at Orebro and take a full load of business courses, which will count toward his or her degree.

The only additional cost to the student is transportation overseas and back, he said.

Orebro students, in turn, can take classes at Southeast.

"A couple of our students will be going over in the spring," he said. About six Swedish students are studying at Southeast this fall and another six to eight are expected to attend classes here next semester.

"Really we have had an informal agreement with them, and we both are satisfied and are now willing in a sense to formalize it," explained McDougall.

"One of our priorities is to get more students involved," he said. "We are now really emphasizing this as a unique opportunity for students and one that will give them a competitive advantage."

In other business, the regents will consider accepting the annual audit of the Student Recreation Center and housing system bond funds, and the audit report on federal financial assistance programs.

The regents will consider reappointing Alton Bray, former Southeast registrar, to another three-year term on the Show Me Center Board of Managers. Bray is a charter member of the board.

The regents are expected to give formal approval to the conferring of degrees for those students graduating this semester. Commencement exercises are scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Show Me Center.

Also on the agenda are a number of discussion items. Regent Mark Pelts of Kennett will present the Harry L. Crisp Bootheel Education Center Advisory Board report. Robert Foster, executive director of the Southeast Missouri University Foundation will deliver a report on that group's operations. The board will also receive a briefing on the Towers renovation project.